Book Review: A London Country Busman, 1975-1990.

Sunday 22nd October 2023

This new book by Matthew Keyte gives a fascinating insight into life working for London Country Bus Services (LCBS) and the privatised London Country Bus North West Ltd during a period that saw seismic change including converting routes to driver only operation, revitalising the Green Line network and deregulation and privatisation.

Matthew began his career as a Junior Management Trainee spending time learning the skills of scheduling among a range of different work streams before spending many years as a conductor and driver in London Country’s garages in the south (principally Reigate) as well as subsequently Hemel Hempstead moving to supervisory and junior management roles including in Amersham.

He left London Country Bus (North West) Ltd in 1990 aged 33 and continued his career in the bus industry at Metroline for 19 years, working as a driver, Service Controller and Schedules Manager then moved to Mullany’s Buses in Watford as Commercial Manager before returning to Metroline as Schedules Compiler until retirement in 2020.

But its the formative first 15 years of his career as “A London Country Busman” which is the subject of this book covering the years 1975 to 1990.

It’s a very readable personal account of Matthew’s experiences carrying out various roles helped by the diaries he kept detailing the conducting and driving duties depicting life on the road in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His initial management training involved being one of the last trainee conductors with LCBS, as crew operation was rapidly drawing to a close in the mid 1970s. Working at both Godstone and Reigate garages Matthew recalls details of working with named drivers on a variety of routes with some wonderful anecdotes encapsulating crew operation of that era including a late night arrival back into garage 12 minutes ahead of schedule but unfortunately having been spotted by an off duty member of the Central London Green Line Control team leaving the station at Earlswood on his way home.

Matthew struggled with the Chartered Institute of Transport’s entrance exams particularly papers covering shipping – a familiar struggle I can also vouch for – and as it was a requirement to pass and become an Institute member in those days his management training was brought to an end, but he’d already got a taste of life on the road and opted to stay on as a conductor.

Matthew passed his PSV driving test at the fourth attempt in 1980 and drove a variety of routes including on the Green Line network with a particular liking for the long route 727. It was the first driver only operated route he drove in service on a duty that covered the Reigate to Crawley section, relieving drivers who’d arrived south from St Albans. He describes how what was known as the “Tango driver…. would try to make up time so as to handover on time northbound”, explaining how by knowing when to “put the proverbial foot down and by shaving stand time at Crawley from 10 minutes to one minute could often convert a 20-25 minute late takeover into an on time handover”.

Work soon followed on Private Hires, National Express and Tours as London Country broaden its range of work with a young keen Matthew being an obvious candidate for such operations. He was often requested by hire clients for repeat business.

Matthew moved north to Hemel Hempstead in 1984 and quickly developed a preference for driving the longer distance routes from that garage rather than the tedious town routes. He describes some fascinating cultural differences there compared to Reigate including not only a very traditional male dominated approach (Hemel Hempstead was largely staffed by a group of ex London Transport drivers who’d moved to the New Town in the 1950/60s retaining their seniority and working practices) but also of concern, Matthew found the garage operated a “colour bar” with any black or Indian applicants illegally told there were no vacancies and to apply to neighbouring Garston or St Albans garages instead.

In 1985 he gained promotion to a Depot Inspector role at Amersham garage but big changes arrived the following year in 1986 in the form of deregulation and subsequently, privatisation.

Matthew’s skills were used in the Traffic Section of the newly established London Country Bus (North West) Ltd in 1986 to oversee fares and tickets as well as helping with drivers’ duty compilation. It’s interesting to read his account of what went on behind the scenes at this fledgling company including his work in publicity, dealing with on the road competition, gaining tenders for LRT work (pre TfL), introducing new Wayfarer ticket machines, writing manuals for drivers and then, in 1988, his take on the way the company was privatised.

After what was a hectic three years for Matthew, a reorganisation saw him return to Amersham as Assistant Area Manager in 1989 which included responsibilities for outstations including High Wycombe, Chesham and Aston Clinton. The work schedule and responsibilities were punishing and with the company facing Public Inquiries by the Traffic Commissioners, rumours about its future ownership and general disillusionment Matthew decided enough was enough and in 1990 resigned and opted to become a driver with Metroline, subsequently leading to other roles as described earlier.

This isn’t a history of bus routes (although some details are given of routes based on Redhill and Hemel Hempstead (see below) which Matthew features in the book) and there are scant details of vehicles and the fleet but for me that makes the book even more readable as it concentrates on real life experiences of working for a bus company at a time of great change.

If you have an interest in the history of London Country and enjoy insights into what life was like at the operational sharp end as that company went through a turbulent period this is definitely the book for you. The hardback 144 pages come lavishly illustrated with wonderful photographs of the era from the magnificent collection of Mike Harris, as well as Tony Wilson, and at £30 it truly is a treasure trove of nostalgia and memories of a defining period now 35 to almost 50 years ago.

The book, published to its usual high standard by Capital Transport, costs £30 and is available from its online shop or the usual outlets. It’s a recommended buy from me.

Roger French

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